Kirklees

Kirklees' population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census show there were changes in ethnicity, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 420,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Kirklees increased by 8.7%, from just under 389,000 to 422,000.

The addition of just under 34,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Kirklees was home to, on average, 7.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Yorkshire and The Humber, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Living alone in Kirklees

The percentage of single-person households changed very little in Kirklees, while the proportion increased in nearby Calderdale.

In Kirklees, the proportion of single-person households stayed close to 30% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in Calderdale increased from 30% to 33%.

Across Yorkshire and The Humber, the share of single-person households increased from 30% to 31%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Kirklees increased from 8.6% to 10%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 38% to 35%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Kirklees

The number of people in Kirklees from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 45,000 in 2001 to about 68,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 16% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (from 4.7% to 7.3%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Kirklees from the White ethnic groups remained close to 330,000 between the last two censuses (from 86% to 79% of the population). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 5,400 to about 9,800 (from 1.4% to 2.3%).

Just over 7,900 people (1.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 5,200 in 2001 (1.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Kirklees increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Kirklees by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Kirklees

The number of people in Kirklees that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 39,000 in 2001 to about 61,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 10% to 15% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (from 3.8% to 6.2%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Kirklees that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 260,000 in 2001 to just under 230,000 in 2011 (from 67% to 53%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 54,000 to about 100,000 (from 14% to 24%).

About 27,000 people (7.3%) did not state their religion, down from just over 28,000 in 2001 (6.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Kirklees increased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Kirklees by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Kirklees that rented privately increased from 9.1% to 16% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 17% in 2001. The percentage of Kirklees households that owner their home decreased from 70% to 67%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Yorkshire and The Humber (from 9.1% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Kirklees increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Kirklees residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.8% to 5.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Kirklees residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Yorkshire and The Humber (from 10% in 2001 to 6.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Kirklees decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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